Wave-actuated air-compressor.



E. A. WALL. WAVE AGTUATED AIR COMPRESSOR.

APPLICATION FILED APB.. 10, 1911.

Patented Nov.14,1911.

9 i WITNESSES INVENTOR O '4M-M Anm@ ENOS A. WALL, OF SALT LAKE CITY,UTAH.

WAVE-ACTUATED AIR-COMPRESSOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

App1ication led April 10, 1911.

Patented Nov. 14., 1911.

Serial No. 620,249.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ENOS A. WALL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Salt Lake City, in the county of Salt Lake and State ofUtah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wave-ActuatedAir-Compressors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the compression of air by wave power.

The object of the invention is to provide an apparatus in which air maybe compressed by the direct action of waves and stored for use inventilation or for use in operating machinery, such as dynamos, motors,and the like. This object I accomplish by the construction shown in theaccompanying drawing, in which- Figure l is a perspective of my improvedapparatus. Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation thereof.

A, designates four guide posts firmly planted in the beach at the pointbest suited for the purpose. B, designates aiioat guided vertically bysaid posts during the rise and fall of the tide. The float has straps7), freely movable on the posts and the iioat may be water ballasted ifdesired in the usual manner. The outer end of the float is inclined asshown and to this inclined portion is secured a plurality of connectedrectangular funnels C, with their wide, open ends facing the incomingwaves. The larger open ends of the funnels are of sufficient breadth tospan across and receive the entire impact of the waves, one of which isindicated by the broken line w, in Fig. 2. The contracted outlets C,from the funnels are inclined substantially parallel with theinclination of the beach, in order not to deflect materially thedirection of the greatest thrust-force of the waves at the point ofcontact with the waves. The entrance to the contracted throats oroutlets C are slightly above the surface of the normal water line sothat as the waves recede the water will run out of the throats C whichwill become filled with air. From the upper ends of the throats C,extend otake pipes C2, each having an upward opening check valve c, anda flexible delivery pipe D. These pipes D, lead to a tank (not shown) onthe shore.

As the waves impact with full force into the wide outer ends of thefunnels the air will be imprisoned in the throats C and the water inrushing therein will force the compressed air 1East the check valvesinto delivery pipes The float will be ballasted so as to keep thefunnels in the position shown relative to the line a2.

The air stored may be used in Ventilating buildings or in operatingmachinery.

lhat I claim is l. An air compressing mechanism comprising, a floatmounted to rise and fall with the tide, a plurality of connected funnelson the outer end of the float with their open, wide ends facing theincoming waves, contracted outlets at the small rear ends of thefunnels, located above the water level so as to be free from water andfill with air on the recession of the Waves, offtakes from the saidcontracted outlets and check valves in said offtakes, the said funnelsand contracted outlets being entirely open and unobstructed.

2. An air compressing mechanism comprising, a horizontally extendingfloat mounted to rise and fall with the tide,`

guides for the float, a plurality of connected funnels mounted on theinclined outer end of the float with their open, wide ends facing theincoming Waves and having upwardly inclined contracted outlets lyingabove the water level, so as to be free from water and fill with air onthe recession of the waves from said contracted outlets, ofl takesleading from the contracted outlets and provided with check valves, andflexible pipes leading from said offtakes the said funnels andcontracted outlets being entirely open and unobstructed.

Tn testimony whereof I aiiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ENOS A. WALL. Vitnesses:

HENRY A. RIPPE, LLEWELLYN D. LEE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

